Resolution 40/5. International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women* The Commission on the Status of Women, Recalling General Assembly resolution 50/163 of 22 December 1995, in which the Assembly reaffirmed the original mandate and distinct capacity of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to carry out research and training for the advancement of women, as stipulated in General Assembly resolution 3520 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, Stressing the need for independent research to ensure that policy-making and project implementation address issues and emerging areas of concern to women and the role of the activities of the Institute therein, 1. Emphasizes the unique function of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women as the only entity within the United Nations system devoted exclusively to research and training for the advancement of women and their integration in the development process, and stresses the importance of making its research findings available for policy purposes, as background for operational activities and for the implementation of the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women; 34/ 2. Reaffirms paragraph 360 of the Platform for Action, in which it is stated that, recognizing the roles of United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, in particular the roles of the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, in the promotion of the empowerment of women, and therefore in the implementation of the Platform for Action within their respective mandates, inter alia, in research, training and information activities for the advancement of women, as well as technical and financial assistance to incorporate a gender perspective in development efforts, the resources provided by the international community need to be sufficient and should be maintained at an adequate level; 3. Stresses the need for the Institute to further develop active and close cooperation with the specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system and with other institutions; 4. Recognizes the special role that the Institute must play in the implementation of the Platform for Action; 5. Commends the efforts of the Institute to address all levels of poverty that hamper so dramatically the advancement of women, through the coordination of research and training activities in the areas of economic and political empowerment of women; statistics and indicators in gender issues; communications; women, natural resources and sustainable development; water, sanitation and waste management; renewable sources of energy; and issues related to different population groups, such as the girl child, older women, displaced women, refugee and migrant women and women in rural areas; * For the discussion, see chap. II, paras. 48-50. 34/ Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (A/CONF.177/20 and Add.1), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. -26-